Brendan on Luis, Torres and Chelsea

Brendan Rodgers is relishing the prospect of another classic Chelsea v Liverpool encounter when the Reds go in search of a fifth consecutive Barclays Premier League win over their London rivals on Sunday afternoon.

Rodgers knows all about the recent history between the two clubs as he joined Jose Mourinho at Chelsea in 2004 to take on the role of Academy head youth coach.

He was promoted to reserve team manager two years later and remained in his role at Cobham until taking up the reins as Watford manager in November 2008.

And during those years, the rivalry between Mourinho's Chelsea and Rafa Benitez's Reds developed into one of the fiercest in European football and culminated in a series of high-profile Champions League encounters.

"It was the beginning of a new era for Chelsea and the games against Liverpool were fantastic," Rodgers told reporters gathered at Melwood.

"Starting with the Carling Cup final (in 2005) and progressing through to the Champions League games - they were always fantastic matches.

"I always remember the Liverpool supporters at Stamford Bridge. That was one of the main things. The atmosphere they created there and then a week later at Anfield in 2005 was incredible.

"They are very good games and we go into the game in decent form in the league. We just need that wee bit of good fortune to go our way to turn draws into wins."

Roberto Di Matteo's reigning European champions began the season in particularly impressive form, sweeping to the top of the Barclays Premier League table courtesy of seven wins in eight games.

However in their last two league encounters they have lost to Manchester United at Stamford Bridge and were forced to settle for a point against Swansea.

"They have had a terrific start to the season and Roberto has done a great job," said Rodgers. "He helped mastermind the Champions League win, which was something that Chelsea had wanted to win for a number of years.

"They have brought in very good players, so it will be a tough game. Every game at this level is a big game but when you go to a rival like Chelsea away from home, it's always going to be difficult.

"For us it's about collecting the points and whether that's at Chelsea or anywhere else, it doesn't really matter. We just look to keep our performance level up. We are creating a lot of opportunities to score; we just need to find that wee bit of finesse and killer instinct at the end of it."

Fernando Torres heaped praise on Steven Gerrard earlier this week after the skipper made a landmark 600th appearance for Liverpool.

Torres switched to Chelsea in January 2011; however, on the day he departed, Luis Suarez arrived at Melwood to begin his Liverpool career.

"From the outside looking in, Fernando Torres did a terrific job here at Liverpool," said Rodgers. "Especially in those first 18 months, when he was just fantastic.

"But he decided to move on and Liverpool got a world-class striker in Luis, who has been absolutely breathtaking - particularly this season in some of his play. Luis's contribution for us is fantastic.

"He is a world-class striker and I'm blessed to work at a great club with great players and Luis is one of them."

Torres will likely play through the middle against the Reds on Sunday with an array of attacking talent including Eden Hazard, Juan Mata and Oscar interchanging behind him.

"They are very dynamic and they are all technicians," said Rodgers. "Chelsea set up with Torres playing through the middle and those three behind him. They are like three No.10s, working behind the lines and they are terrific talents.

"Oscar is a great technician, Hazard has settled well and Mata is doing very, very well. We know the dangers they posses. It will be a good game."

Asked about the scale of the challenge Liverpool face in subduing Chelsea's forwards, Rodgers replied: "I find when working with world-class players that they will always find the space somehow. You can do all your work tactically to organise your lines but you find that the top players will always find ways around that.

"My focus is on Liverpool and how we play and our game. We only focus on ourselves. In a number of games this season, offensively we have been really good. We just need that final touch in the box to make the difference."

Meanwhile, the manager was keen to praise Raheem Sterling, who earlier this week was named as one of four Reds in Roy Hodgson's England squad for their friendly against Sweden in Stockholm.

The 17-year-old, who remained on Merseyside as Rodgers and his team made the 1,600-mile trip to Moscow for the clash with Anzhi, was given his first Three Lions call up earlier this year.

"He has been fantastic this season since he has broken into the team," said Rodgers. "He deserves it. Even though he is so young he is really developing very quickly. I'm delighted for him for all the hard work he has put in. I'm sure he's very excited about it, he's got a good head on his young shoulders."

The manager was also asked about his plans for the January transfer window and he told reporters: "I'm confident that we will be able to reinforce the group. It's the same as at every club. Every club will be reassessing their group and then looking at potential targets to come in January.

"We know we need to give the group some help and I'm sure that we will do that. The quicker we can get it done the better and that will certainly be the aim if we can."

I am pleased of the way Brendan is handling the group, keeping a crop of players for the EPL and another for the Europa League games. But what I ask BR is: are you sure that you'll have the total support of the owners to reinforce blatantly this group or instead as usual you will fall back on new inexperienced players and not proven internationals? I nurture some doubts...